Carroll, Lyons carry MU over Central Michigan

Carroll played well in the first half and Lyons hit his stride in the second.

By Sam Wilson, Senior Staff Writer
Nov. 13, 2007

Junior forward Leo Lyons could feel the pressure. With 17 minutes and 22 seconds to go in Monday's game against the Central Michigan Chippewas, fellow junior forward DeMarre Carroll left the game with his third foul. The Tigers led 47-41 at the time. Lyons said he knew he had to step up.

"He was playing really good," Lyons said. "He was hot, so I figured it was my chance."

Carroll had carried the Tigers (1-0) in the first half. He shot 7-9 from the field and scored 17 first-half points. He also grabbed eight rebounds in the first half. But his third foul forced the Tigers to find other options. Lyons scored 10 points after that to lead the Tigers to an 87-76 victory.

"It was good to see Leo show up in the second half," coach Mike Anderson said. "Some guys play as good as their jump shots. He's playing for the wrong coach if he thinks that's going to take place. In the second half, I thought he played with a little bit more passion."

Lyons finished the game with 18 points and five rebounds.

"I could have been a lot better," Lyons said. "But I stayed in attack mode the whole time he (Carroll) was out. So that helped us a lot because I had a few mismatches out there."

Carroll still finished the game as the team's leading scorer and rebounder, with 23 points and eight boards. Anderson tried to work him into the game later in the second half, but Carroll got another foul soon after and was forced to head back to the bench. He fouled out on a charge with 3 minutes, 23 seconds to go in the game, having only played four minutes in the second half.

"The second half, it was miserable for me," he said. "Every time I'd step out there, I'd get a foul. I just tried to go out there and play more aggressive, and I guess that led to fouling."

Carroll sat out last season because of his transfer from Vanderbilt. He said his excitement to finally play in another regular season game might have led to him be overaggressive.

"I was all hyper," Carroll said. "I was in here hyped. Screaming, hollering, yelling. Once I got out there, I was hyped too."

Anderson said he agreed that Carroll's excitement might have led to his fouls.

"That's why I took him out early," Anderson said. "I said, 'Just settle down.'"

Lyons has said he enjoys getting to play with Carroll.

"It puts a lot of mismatches on guys since we're big and we can move, so the bigger guys can't stay with us," Lyons said. "That opens up a lot for us."

Carroll said he feels the duo will be especially strong when they are playing well at the same time, as opposed to Monday when Carroll played well in the first half and Lyons hit his stride in the second.

"Once we get on the same page, it's going to be a dangerous sight," Carroll said.

Carroll and Lyons get their next opportunity to play together tonight at home in another CBE Classic game against Fordham at 7 p.m.

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Carroll, Lyons carry MU over Central Michigan

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